Support for caregivers grieving the loss of cancer patients
Official title: Support for bereaved friend and family caregivers of cancer patients
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-10872748 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about supporting friends and family caregivers who have recently lost someone to cancer by offering a 6-week nature-based meditation program to help them cope with their feelings and improve their well-being during this tough time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | September 13, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $157,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03CA282943-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10872748 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently lost a loved one to cancer and have served as caregivers during the patient's end-of-life care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not caregivers or who have not experienced the death of a loved one from cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on helping friends and family caregivers who have recently lost a loved one to cancer. It involves a 6-week program that uses nature-based meditation to support their emotional health and well-being during the challenging period of bereavement. Participants will engage with auditory modules designed to facilitate grief recovery and improve quality of life by addressing feelings of depression and anxiety. The study will assess how acceptable and feasible this intervention is for caregivers in the first six months after their loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide essential emotional support and coping strategies for caregivers dealing with grief after the loss of a cancer patient.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that nature-based interventions and meditation can positively impact emotional well-being, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lehto, Rebecca H — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lehto, Rebecca H
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.